Body image

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[@MarkEMiller]

I love what JP says at the end "you give yourself the permission to change the way you think about yourself." And Shawn if you're watching, I'm not body shaming you my sweet sweet child.

[@zzgamamagzz]

I think another layer that adds to the anxiety/stress/pressure is the way in which the gay community glorifies one specific type of body. It's already hard enough, like you said, to love your body in the general context of social media, but when you add in perceived attraction (i.e. I must look this way to be attractive in this community OR this is what X guy thinks is attractive) then it gets even harder and the shame is compounded.

[@MageSutek]

Good and substantive content per usual!

[@tmichael39]

Funny, Shawn did an interview about his body insecurities. You should look it up and watch it.

[@MageSutek]

@@tmichael39 Who is this Shawn he is referencing?

[@tmichael39]

@@MageSutek mendes

[@hartthrob13]

Appreciated the intention behind this video, but I couldn’t help but think about the fact that all the people in it still fit the mold of conventional attractiveness. I’ve never once been told that someone liked something about my body. To be in this body and see folks who look completely different (and in my view, better) than me still struggling with body image makes me wonder if any of us will ever fully get there. Like, what are we all aspiring to? What is the endgame? I hate it, but it also consumes me. In any case, inspired by your content. Inspired by your spirit. I love you, Mark. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@aboymadeofsky]

See, I found that to be the most powerful thing about it - I've been watching Mark's videos for YEARS and always viewed him as like, the paragon of this gorgeous Midwestern jock archetype, that is so celebrated in the media. So to hear that he has been on a similar journey that I have with respect to how he feels about his own body is really healing. It suggested to me that maybe there is no "endgame" to which we need to physically aspire. Maybe, the main battle lies within - and it can be won by simply loving the bodies we are born with. Thanks for sharing!

[@hartthrob13]

@@aboymadeofsky I may get there eventually. It’s tough to believe in 100% authenticity in videos like this when everyone profiled is “attractive.” (I say this in quotes because it’s all subjective.) I guess I’d feel somewhat better if the media started not just showing fat people like myself who are confident, but ALSO showing fit people who are willing to give those confident, fat folks a chance. Body image stuff is SO complicated. I realize there’s hypocrisy even in what I’m saying. I’m still fighting to attain the love of the stereotypical hot, fit guy because I find my own body (that I made this way, not that I was born with) unattractive. So I guess there’s some inherent repulsion in all bodies that look like mine because I hate what I’ve done to my own so badly. I get it. We love everyone. We should embrace their bodies. And I try. But it’s so damn hard to build that confidence. Again, I appreciate the intention behind the video. I just would’ve felt better if either someone who looked like me was profiled or if there was explicit discussion of why people who DON’T look like me should at least give fat people the time of day. It’s just easy, especially in the gay community, to feel completely invisible if you don’t fit the stereotypical mold.

[@hartthrob13]

@@aboymadeofsky Also, as an addendum, I don’t necessarily even mean that fit people need to be willing to date people who look like me. I was referring to literally just being willing to develop authentic friendships and stuff. I find so often that our community (the LGBT community) is one of the most segregated. There’s no reason for all these different “tribes.”

[@gavincolgan1827]

Also (not saying them particularly) but those that a fit are also usually the types to shame, ignore, or exclude others that have an ounce of excess body fat on them. A lot of fit people preach about body positivity but when it comes to actually dating someone that’s not fit? They’d laugh at that.

[@LongNguyen-nd2bt]

You hit the nail on the head that this discussion, while deeply necessary to explore and unpack among all members of the community, would be so much more productive if more diverse body types were represented. And that’s a big deal. It’s exactly because the perception of physical beauty has always been centered around unmaintainable and unattainable body types that we’re hearing the struggles even from those we consider to already be the epitome of attractiveness like Mark. When was the last time you saw someone without chiseled abs portrayed as wanted and desirable in your media consumption? There simply isn’t an endgame, because the game was rigged to begin with. Even when representation of larger and skinnier body types is included, we still fall back to validation from the conventionally beautiful. It might help us build confidence in our bodies, but it doesn’t fix the root cause that we as a community still implicitly perceive specific physical traits to be wanted and others to be unwanted. That, in my opinion, is what we need to unlearn. It’s incredibly difficult, borderline impossible, but we all need to deconstruct the normalized beauty we’ve been imprinted with. To embrace your body and yourself, you have to embrace others like you: larger bodies can be beautiful, smaller frames can be desirable, different skin tones, proportions, shapes and sizes can be sexy. It’s a reversal of the usual trope of loving yourself so you can love somebody else; you need to learn to love a whole rainbow of bodies out there to start seeing yourself as worthy of love and appreciation.

[@mmrjmusic]

For that bathroom moment, I’ve had similar experiences. It’s so weird but, audibly stating affirmations really helps. That’s how I “came out to myself”

[@JasonJewell]

I will say this is one of my favorite videos. It is a topic that we need to normalize. I think we are starting to grow as a society and understand that we are all different and that's okay. Our bodies don't define who we are. Our minds and our hearts do. We can't expect vanity to change overnight. But each of us can take steps to peel back the layers and define our own happiness and measure of success.

[@remcoverstrepen7222]

I used to struggle with my skinny and scrawny body xo But I also think more and more diversity is shown on social media. What helps me is troy sivan and timothee chalamait sharing their body so confidently. So atm I feel quite okay with social media. :D

[@hithere1590]

Scrawny

[@bastiancarson4132]

Troye is my super hero

[@Kurt634]

Thanks for discussing this topic 💛 everyone deserves to love and appreciate themselves no matter who you are and how you look. You are as the universe intended you to be. Also don't forget that the most important part of you isn't your body but your internal self, you are the divine in a physical shell. 💛

[@joshuarichards8065]

I've been skinny, fat, lean and everything in between in different stages of my life. No matter which build I had I suffered body image issues mostly because of how people treated throughout my life. Still struggle but getting better. The biggest help is aknowledging the positives of my body and that they are valid.

[@noselfdoubt]

This video just aligned perfectly with my life journey! I literally just signed up at the gym and had my first personal training session today and was feeling a little defeated with how my body performed. The trainer was so supportive and encouraging but I felt there was something missing that I couldn’t get out of the funk. The key element to this is “love.” I wasn’t loving myself with how my body disappointed me today…but what I was told was it only gets better from here. The worst is over and if you continue to love and accept that it’s okay with where you are, you’ll soon get to a healthier version of you. Thank you Mark for your amazing videos and vibes! Namaste friend! 🙏🏼💙☺️

[@jakeverbeek]

as someone who's been struggling with an eating disorder for nearly a decade this video was really good to see. thank you.

[@Lemsterssss]

Thank you so much for speaking about this topic. I feel like I am the most insecure person I know and I've been trying so hard to love my own body. It's really hard to cope up especially when I see a lot of the "society's standards" being praised and preferred by more people. I really needed to hear this 😊👌🏻🤙🏻

[@jaytrull9006]

Thank you for this video Mark! I’ve always struggled with being comfortable with my body. I can count on one hand the number of people that have seen me without a shirt on since middle school, and I just graduated college. This video helped me to try and change my mindset about my body. Thank you for what you do.

[@brendenbrooks2112]

Thank you Mark, honestly I’ve been having a really hard time mentally lately and I really needed this video to lift my spirits 💜

[@caddyzig]

To know that all three of you guys, who are all fantastic looking, have insecurities just like the rest of us is so reassuring. It doesn’t excuse being unhealthy or not working to live up to your own potential, but none of us is perfect and we’re all going to age! Thank you so much for the realistic and helpful words.

[@jfxl1977]

Great video Mark! None of us are alone in this struggle and it's one of those things in life where it's so important to mentally get to a point of acceptance. What Donnie said is a wonderful point, "Surround yourself with positive imagery of what is real." There are filters and Photoshop, etc. and they get used a lot to create a false reality of body acceptance. JP's comment hit the message home; "If you feel good inside and you're healthy, and you're working hard and can do all the things you want to do, that's literally all that matters." Thank you for putting yourself out there for all of us to learn from. Your channel has the best vibe!

[@DidrickNamtvedt]

"If you feel good inside and you're healthy, and you're working hard and can do all the things you want to do, that's literally all that matters."

[@Swakhilemusic]

Thank you for this Mark. The journey is so hard but worth it and dealing with stretch marks in my journey has been a lot but I am much stronger today than I've ever been. keep up the uplifting content Mark! We love you

[@pacificodelnorte6628]

We definitely have to be careful about comparing ourselves to other people, and just remember that no two of us are exactly the same. We have to try to be the best version of ourselves and allow others to be the best version of themselves. Great chat and important message, Mark!🎤

[@AbdullahRafaah]

LOVE YOUR CONTENT! .. Still waiting for that third episode from your podcast. never get bored listening to the first two over and over again

[@stevec404]

My perspective changed when I came out of the pool amongst friends..."That's how I want to look" said one to the group while motioning to me. I was floored! I then started to see myself in a new light., not as a skinny kid, but as a total individual. Many years later, I embraced the wonderful variety of guys out there. Life is a smorgasbord of different flavors. Bon Appetit!

[@JoshAarons]

Man I really related to JP and what he said about his legs. Really great to see and hear body positive conversations. I’ve recently found a gratitude for my body as I recover from a knee injury that’s stopped me from exercising the way I want to. It’s forced me to look at myself differently and find peace in doing what I can to feel good and be proud of what I have. 👏🏽

[@jasperismydog28]

I really relate to jp about the legs thing and being bigger in middle school, like it was so nice to hear someone else talk about the same things that I think about! It’s so nice to know I’m not alone in that

[@darkzomb]

at 38 years old, I can think of a 2-3 year period where I liked my body, and it was around ages 20-22. I have always been bigger. Strong, healthy, but bigger, never quick, never svelt. So I was always the "fat kid" and the "nerd" and then I realised I was gay, so it just became another stress point. my lifestyle has always been chaotic and its been difficult for me to add structure and successfully slim down. The past 6 months I made some slight progress, and I want to keep it up, but I don't think I will ever be "good looking." As a gay man, you are epected to be trim and muscular, and if you are into that gym look, you attain it to attract that type. There is this fairy tale story of opposite body types attracting, but I have never seen it. its alwys an athletic guy with a fit guy, or a big guy with a big guy, and I wish I was attracted to other guys built like me, but i just am not. Its a HUGE point of contention with attaining some self validation, as I will never see beauty within myself by default. As I age, its just harder, and I will never be that "insta-gay" type. I keep off social media beyond a few projects of my own, and have just come to accept that I won't find anyone who wants me. My mental health is so impacted by my physical appearance, and always has been. its weird because I don't think I am ugly, im handsome, I just a have a non-desirable body. It sucks

[@DidrickNamtvedt]

Reading this is literally like reading about myself, I'm having the exact same struggle. I've always been big and though I managed to slim down when I was 28 and 35 respectively, I never managed to keep myself slim long-term, the weight always came sneaking back. And it gets harder the older you get and now I'm 40 and feeling like I'm fighting against age and time and that I the days of looking slim are long gone for me. I just feel like I'm not losing weight as quickly as I did when I was younger and it's honestly depressing. And I hear you about how opposite types supposedly attracting, in my case they certainly don't. I typically go for the slim, well bult guys myself but in the long run, personality matters the most. I do wanna look good and dateable to other guys though so the struggle is definitely real.

[@jjeg1988]

THISSSS!! I always struggle with my body and the way I feel. I always wanted to say “i love myself/ my body” but i have never sadly reached that goal in my life. Hearing such helpful stories definitely helps.

[@dbm92]

Wow this was the right topic at the right time. Especially the constant barrage of Instagram bodies that I'm equal parts attracted to and toxically jealous of. As a taller person who grew up lanky, I totally resonate with what was talked about. So many good perspectives in this video.

[@tuchehstone]

I loved watching this video because it hit home with my former insecurities about my body. But what really helped to affirm what I've been doing is working is when I received my lab work from my doctor. All but one thing were within a normal range. To me, it proved that exercising and maintaining a healthful relationship with food is what I needed to do and continue doing. It helped to affirm that overcoming my body insecurities would be best done by achieving a healthful eating regimen. This video only reinforces my thought process in this regard. 👍🏽👍🏽

[@thiagopereira1646]

Thanks for sharing this vid. It’s so crazy we’re always struggling ourselves about the way our bodies look. That made me think a lot about how I’ve been treating myself lately… Hearing that you have insecurities was a surprise to me ‘cause you’re a guy I really think is so handsome and have a perfect body. We really need to embrace us and stop unhealthy thoughts… It’s a process and your vid is guiding us through. Thanks!

[@jamiefordx]

Daddy energy throughout this whole thing! Thanks y’all ♥️

[@coryrob]

I locked in on what JP said about his legs. I feel the same way 💯. My legs are my abs are two of my most unwanted parts of my body that I need to learn how to work them better and start to give them some love. It’s a tough world out there and Instagram/social media doesn’t help. I’m glad I have your channel to listen to your content and know there are others out there that feel this way when sometimes those other instagrammers are my friends that I strive to look like. Thank you for this video Mark. As always, love your content. ❤️

[@jamiescott5461]

It’s a weird concept to me, hearing your say that you compare yourself to others bodies. When I and others compare us to you. Luv you and ur content ❤️🌈

[@brandoncousineau9972]

Thank you so much for this video. Setting the tone, Mark. Thank you, thank you.

[@15babo93]

Excellent message Mark! I feel that once you accept your body and understand it, exercising becomes easier and more enjoyable. Some peoples bodies are meant for lifting…some are made for running….Find what your body responds well to and have fun and be happy

[@andyweaver277]

Mark, I get it. Our own self image is often not actually linked to reality, it’s connected to false perceptions from our youthful perspective. Letting go and be present today is key. You are perfect!

[@gerardpritchard657]

I love how my chest looks, but super insecure about my stomach 🙃 thanks for this, Mark! Gonna appreciate my body today

[@adamcarter271]

Thank you for this, Mark. I'm at a point where I'm struggling with my body image and it upsets me that I'm more concerned with how others perceive me rather than myself.

[@DavidBrowningBYD]

I think this topic needs more discussion, and I really am glad a young, athletic, handsome guy is doing it. I am twice your age, and was older than you are when an advisor suggested to me that the voices in my head that issue those judgmental statements did NOT originate with me, but outside of me. I was taught to believe I was other--not good looking enough, not fit enough, not outgoing enough, not smart enough, etc. I applaud anyone who achieves success in that struggle, but even for the successful ones, it's daily work to remember that we are enough, regardless. I am also really happy to see the body and other kinds of diversity we see now in social media and even in mainstream media. When I was younger very few people who did not mirror some ideal were featured publicly, and then usually to be shamed. (Even now there are web sites and social media groups whose focus is to ridicule people.) Side topic, but worth discussing: I once did a blog post comparing those who feel it their duty to tell a person who does not meet some idea that there is something wrong with them to those who feel it their duty to make the world mirror their own world views--usually religious world views. I don't see a difference there.

[@DeverusSlays]

Where you placed the subtitles over JP was so symbolic. "Long drawn out Journey" "Mind, body, soul, everything"

[@mulhatton]

Yippee yay! A new Marky vid! Personally, I love your mind, your thoughts, and your opinions, no matter what you look like 🤗. And you's a funny guy 🥳 Loads a love 🇿🇦

[@chrisayala4862]

That’s why I workout to feel good and not look good. Because if you workout to look good you’ll never be happy because the benchmark will always be moving according to social idealistic expectation that we can always do better. We don’t need to be better we just need to BE.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Hey Mark, there are so many great messages in this video. You should do more of these. Life is such a struggle. Hearing this stuff helps. We can’t do it alone. It’s often hard to find peace with the way we came. A positive word is a good thing. Thanks

[@bastiancarson4132]

Thank you Mark! This and Troye Sivan's STUD has been some of the best I've heard said on this sensitive topic. It is definitely something that is hitting us harder as gay men. We are comparing ourselves and constantly feeling like having our sexual value weighed. Guys if you haven't listened to STUD you should have a listen. Something clicked for me when I heard a sexy pop song with lyrics openly confronting this issue. We need to talk about it.

[@brentbraniff]

I spent most of my life thinking I was ugly. I was told that by classmates in school and I believed them. I carried that with me throughout my adult life and consequently I remained alone. I never thought I was good enough and if someone showed any interest at all I figured that they could do better so I never pursued it. The most I ever had with another guy is a one night thing every few years or so and they usually found someone better than me so that kind of added my belief that I was never good enough. Being gay is rough, you get beat on for being gay from both ends of the spectrum and it doesn't help when it comes from the people that are supposed to be more accepting. Good body image...self esteem....all of that is hard to come by when everything around you tells you that you will never measure up. I'm now 64 years old and I know that the part of my life where finding someone is pretty much over. There has to be more to help people with self image issues, something besides a video on the subject here and there. A lot of people like myself struggle with this throughout their lives and end up alone or never feeling good enough to be gay.

[@chs75]

I'm sorry that was your experience, but for what it is worth Brent you are really handsome!😍

[@chs75]

And no that part of your life is definitely not over...unless you want it to be.

[@mttycrsn]

this message is so important! Thanks for sharing Mark ☺️☺️

[@California_Nation_Laurent]

Thanks, Mark. What a gr8, gr8 reminder for us all. Me especially. I think a lot of this falls under the category of Body Dysmorphia, which I've been diagnosed w/and have suffered from most of my life. On the daily, I wrestle with my body image. I'm 6', weigh 175 pounds, and a fat pig w/a pancake butt, is all I see in the mirror, no matter my weight even at 160. I always say, 'would we be friends with someone who talked so badly about us? No, we would not. So why are we accepting it from ourselves?' You've been such a gr8 help, Mark. Thanks so much. 🤗

[@MarvinNeumannOfficial]

Thanks for this video Mark!

[@ady8097]

Thank you for this Mark.

[@lashway57]

Love this kind of content dude!

[@austinkunkle561]

Happy New Year dude! Thanks for this

[@GregRBaird]

Great post...I understand all that you brought up today for my entire lifetime!

[@gusnguyen123]

Thanks for sharing this experience and video you are loved and I love that you did this. I’m insecure of my body and my but too but you remind me I need to love myself

[@stevebuck1737]

Mark great topic and really appreciate you for putting it up.

[@jorgleiger]

Can I just say how much I love your uploads, especially over the last year! Genuine, important conversations brought to us in an entertaining and down to earth fashion... Thank you! YOU are magic 😊

[@thickernell]

I think the elephant in the corner though is gay male culture. We all talk this talk of love, respect, be who you are, yada yada. But in reality, our culture is the WORST when it comes to body shaming. We need to work on that and move to walking the walk. I think it's probably because so many of us have been recipients of this treatment when growing up and, as is human nature, those who are abused tend to become abusers, so we continue to do it to other gay men as adults.

[@AlexanderMarsov]

Thnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks Mark! Youre so inspirational!

[@joseherrera4176]

love ya, thanks for the vid. I needed this more than you know

[@aleksoares]

i really needed this video today. thanks u, sending love from brazil!

[@markjones95648]

I don't know if this is ok...but that was fucking awesome content. That's why so many people enjoy and follow you! Hugs big guy and thanks again for this content! Shalom

[@robguzman_]

Love this topic! I was looking at photos of myself from 4 years ago and nearly cried because I thought I was getting fat, when actually I was slimmer than a stick.

[@charliewebster7726]

Complicated topic. One thing I try to keep in mind, particularly (but not exclusively) when I'm feeling a bit down on my appearance: I focus on what my body can DO as opposed to what it looks like.

[@alekseipetrov5138]

your mom is everything. you r lucky Mark Miller. Love from Russia

[@tomh5941]

Very very well done Mark and friends!

[@danielmartinez7726]

Thank you! You’re amazing! 😊

[@queentangy]

I feel like I’m on an island by myself, but not until I got onto the apps did i learn to appreciate my body - I’m Greek and pretty hairy and I always hated how much hair I had on my chest, legs, arms (face when I was the only one capable of growing a beard at the end of middle school lol) but the apps showed me there are soooo many people that I find attractive that are also attracted back to me. It was such a breakthrough to realize that everyone has a type and you may be some peoples type, and you may not be others. What an invitation that was for me to appreciate and love my body for its natural beauty ♥️

[@thesands4963]

Mark, you look awesome now and you always will because you have an amazing soul.

[@timhogan8749]

JP is great! A wise soul.

[@evgenyvvedenskiy9303]

Thank you for this video, much needed today! Btw you’re not the only one who doesn’t have nice peachy booty 🤣 mine is flat as well, no matter how many squats I do or any other exercises targeting that area, it still flat as iron board. But I accepted it it’s just the way my body is and I love it this way. Thank you for being here for us and we all here for you. Love E xxx

[@amila29]

Love this!

[@johnmoon2734]

Many thanks to you, beautiful soul!! 🌹

[@ThexNerdish]

Donny…what a gem.

[@ImChrisCrossed]

I really needed this today

[@benreads]

Love this message, Mark! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@dominiccannuli9798]

Who says you have to love your body? Some days you might wake up and dislike your body and other days you might really be vibing with yourself. Either way it’s okay :)

[@Kategan]

Great topic. Thank you for speaking about it.

[@sweeperboy]

This is a great video, especially for guys because I think the issues re: female body self-image are (rightly) well-documented, but it's not so much the case for us. One thing I will say is that it's human nature to want what you don't have, but it's all very variable. So while the skinnier young Donnie and Mark wanted to get bigger, JP was wishing with all his heart to get smaller. As a shorter, more heavyset guy myself all my life, I would have killed to look like Mark at 14 years of age as he was in the swimming picture - which by the way is a _normal_ younger-teenaged boy's physique, and not especially skinny. I would still kill to have Donnie's height and long legs! Be kind to yourselves. If there are small things you can do to get your body towards where you want it to be, that's great and do it - as Mark has done - but if not, it's not the end of the world if you're healthy. Don't compare, because you don't know what insecurities the people you're comparing against have about themselves - I bet Shawn Mendes has his own, despite his amazing physique.

[@R3alMrsavage]

See growing up I was a bigger kid and I would wear a shirt in the pool because I was scared of hearing what others would say. I had already heard comments from other kids about taking my shirt off from being hot during the summer one year. But I have learned to be comfortable in my body because it is more about what I think about myself not what others think

[@christianponce4714]

Amazing video, thanks for tall about it, you have alway been amazing.

[@shanedorival3177]

I think we all are on a treadmill of highs and lows of body image. We all have insecurities…. We see ourselves everyday and judge ourselves harshly. If we were to be in a room of 20 people naked. We’d all be freaking out. As no one likes to be judged, or feel that we’re under a microscope. But if we all talked about what we liked about each other’s bodies. I’m sure it would give us all another prospective. We just have to accept we are and just be kinder to ourselves. Not one of us are perfect, but that’s what is great about it. We all age, our bodies change. Stop listening to the man or woman in the mirror and just live a good life. Love and be loved. Be the best human you can be. That’s what’s truly important.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing.

[@jbt6007]

Great subject Mark.

[@darrylwilliams8457]

You are such a wonderful person. Your mind and soul are so beautiful.

[@JasielMontes14]

Gracias!

[@jasonembree8354]

Great video and topic to discuss with others Mark

[@ericcory244]

Love this! Great content. Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@kevinclavijo6954]

I was a fat kid around 8-13 it was so hard mentally and emotionally. After losing weight and working out, everyday it’s a battle with myself to “not get fat” again and it’s mentally exhausting having to worry about not going back to how I was.

[@wewantyourblo0d]

What Donny said about ignoring the natural rhythm of your body to attain something unnatural rang so damn true

[@StephenTurnerVlogs]

You covered this minefield in a nice way Mark. It's so difficult to keep perspective and be happy with our bodies. I'm not very happy with mine, it could definitely feel better and have less aches 😅, but I think I look alright.

[@robertg7249]

i hate that we are all our own biggest critics. i tend to put myself down, and take away all my own motivations and it's hard to push thru it but that's the only way.

[@DavidBrowningBYD]

That thought occurred to me as well, but keep in mind that we don't know everyone in Mark's circle of friends. We don't know which ones feel comfortable speaking on camera for a KZbin video that will get five gazillion views. We don't know which ones think that they have something useful to contribute to the discussion. And, to be cynical about it, handsome faces bring in viewing hours.

[@kelvinreyes4375]

Great video!!

[@ruan.martins]

Hey Mark, Just watched your video and it is comforting to know that we are not alone. As a dancer, I deal with my body image on a daily basis and I still have a reason for being a gay man in this society that idolizes “perfect” bodies. Your video made me reflect on this topic that is certainly one of the problems of our generation and that haunts more and more people. I hope to have the opportunity as an artist to approach this topic using dance as a magnifying glass and make people aware of this issue. I wish all the success and enjoyable life. Beijos Ruan.

[@TroyBuck]

I think body image is just something that stems from the common trait a lot of people have which is what they have is never good enough. This goes for a ton of things. For example someones life dream could be to make 1 million dollars. But the second they get there all of the sudden they aren’t happy because now they feel they need 10 million. Or the thought that there is always a better job. Another example is you with your body image, from an outside perspective your body is perfect. But internally we judge ourselves so much more.

[@joshde4807]

I have struggled with my weight my entire life. about 5 years ago I had lost 100lbs over the last 5 years I have gained it all back and some. It is so hard to get started again.

[@funnynickline]

I LOVE MY UNIQUE BODY,... THE PURE SOUL,, MIND AND LOVE IS THE GREATEST WHICH TO CONQUERS ALL KINDS OF DEALS IN LIFE☺🌟❤❤❤🌟☺💪💪💃💃

[@gabe6959]

I’ve come to a realization that I don’t like my body, but only because my unhealthy habits caught up with me. The start of the pandemic was the start of me gaming for hours on end, not doing my school work, and eating shit foods, or simply not eating at all. I’m not fat at all, but I’m skinny fat which in my opinion looks even worse. It’s looking the same before I gained 15 pounds in clothes, to LOOKING like I gained 15 pounds without clothes. I’ve started back at the gym, and I’m back in school. I feel motivated to do more stuff than I did months ago.

[@del_fino]

as a millennial, i cannot remember a time where body image was not a topic of conversation. @ 8:00 i relate! in 5th grade i refused to take off my shirt to go swimming and my teacher advised that i wasn’t “fat” and had nothing to be ashamed of… i did end up going shirtless just because all the other boys did. to this day, i would be lying if i said i felt 100% confident with going shirtless; a demon i will forever be living above.

[@katiewilliams5643]

Mark you are incredible you are amazing love is love ❤️

[@tedtula8318]

omg que Euphoria season 2 scene with Kat titled Love Yourself LMFAO

[@lindajones8253]

Great video. It's interesting to see and hear about how men see themselves.

[@palloae]

There really is something about looking in the mirror and allowing yourself to appreciate what you’re looking at. I’ve had acne scars/dark marks all over my upper body (including my face) since like 7th grade, and I’m almost 24. As soon as I got that first negative comment about my acne scars I was just consumed with so much insecurity. I’d try to hide my forehead with my hair, I’d never wear anything that showed my upper arms or too much of my chest or back. It wasn’t until 2 years ago, after 10 damn years that I really just looked at my naked body in a mirror and realized that I didn’t even hate what I was looking at. I was afraid other people would hate what I had. I never really took time to look at myself nude in the mirror before because in my mind my body was just something to hide, there wasn’t anything admirable about it. I was wrong. Thankfully I had an experience with another boy who saw me naked and he liked my body, or at least didnt have the kind of reaction I was dreading. I still hated my scars but I think that experience helped me to get to that point of just seeing and appreciating myself in the mirror. I still have issues. I don’t like my scars sometimes and my skin is still sensitive and gets a bit “ugly” at times but I’m not so afraid of what people might think and I don’t hate myself for having my skin. I also still hate my legs because similarly to JP, all my fat goes to my legs and I really don’t love my legs. That’s been an issue pretty much as long as my skin, but there’s a comfort in knowing that other people probably aren’t as bothered by these things as I am. I don’t have to hate myself.

[@OuchMyNardz]

I think in the past year my mindset has shifted from wanting to achieve an ideal body to wanting a body to achieve a certain active lifestyle. Like being in the gym constantly is terrible. But if the gym can help me hike that mountain or swim that distance, I'm definitely interested. Have to first get a lot of stuff rewired before making this happen tho.

[@ivanasarah5318]

Thank you for bring up the IG likes number, yes, that alone can be good measurement for this topic

[@liamscott7561]

I never thought of myself as attractive but when I went to college people started noticing me more and complementing me on my looks. But I'm so insecure about my appearance that of someone doesn't tell me I'm pretty every day, I start doubting myself and I just fall into this deep dark hole of depression. Also, I have a super tiny butt... thanks for the video Mark, I've always looked up to you and knowing you also have insecureties helps ma to realize that I am not alone ❤

[@flyjet787]

You look attractive in your profile pic....

[@ashleyscott5376]

Mark love!